AI memory shortage could push PS6 launch into 2028 or 2029

A worsening memory chip shortage, already blamed for delayed pre-orders of Valve’s Steam machine, is now threatening Sony’s next PlayStation. Bloomberg’s report on the AI-fueled memory crisis cites two people familiar with Sony’s thinking who say the company is "considering" pushing the PS6 launch from a rumored late 2027 into 2028 or even 2029.

Leaked specs last summer suggested Sony wanted to raise performance while keeping prices modest, aiming for a PS6 in the $400–$600 range instead of $700–$1,000. The company is also said to be developing a handheld that could play PS5 and some cross-gen PS6 games, likely scaling down performance to run higher-end titles.

A jump in the price of a single component could upend that strategy. With the console market largely plateaued, firms face pressure to compete on price against free-to-play ecosystems that still thrive on older hardware and smartphones.

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